Fearing a coronavirus outbreak in crisis-ridden Yemen, the United Nations Security Council has issued another urgent call for a ceasefire.

During a virtual meeting with Yemeni foreign minister Mohamed al-Hadrami and rebel Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdel Salam, council representatives pressed both sides to accept UN proposals for a permanent ceasefire to enable the country to focus on the battle against the virus.

The Saudi-sponsored government has declared a Ramadan truce but the rebel Houthis have made a halt to fighting conditional on an end to air strikes on their forces and lifting of the blockade of their airports and ports.

Since the first Covid-19 case did not appear until April 10th, Yemenis celebrated when Ramadan, the annual Muslim fasting month, began on the 23rd despite warnings from humanitarian agencies that an outbreak could be catastrophic.

In the past week, 25 cases and five deaths have been recorded in southern provinces held by the Saudi-sponsored government and one death in the Houthi-controlled north, although it is suspected infections there are far higher.